Daily Snippet (and Tiny Report)

I accomplished just over 2k words today and completed a chapter of Surrender the Night. After the way my morning went, I’m fucking taking it. Thank you amazing husband who watched the boy for several hours so I could get my shit together. ❤

And now, for something completely different:

“Callahan? Are you okay?”

Jazz started at the voice, snapping his head over to its source. Mitchel stood behind him, an eyebrow half-cocked as he regarded Jazz oddly. “I’m fine,” Jazz answered, his voice betraying him as it cracked with emotion. “Just — heading home.”

Mitchel’s eyebrow just raised higher before he shook his head, approaching Jazz slowly. “I take it you don’t agree with Bates’s suggestion, as well?” he asked, placing his hands in his pockets.

“I take it the Emperor did not take the time to listen to your concerns?” Mitchel pressed, putting a hand on Jazz’s shoulder. He gave Jazz a sympathetic look. “I’m not entirely sure I agree with the idea, myself. While the Emperor and the Hooban Queen get along rather well, I don’t feel approaching this singular terrorist attack as a unit will work in our favor.”

“I don’t, either,” Jazz muttered, brushing Mitchel’s hand off his shoulder. He turned away from him, heading back towards his apartment once again. Mitchel walked beside him. “So what do you think we should do?” he asked after a while, sounding unsure of himself. “Ryin usually listens to me — but I don’t think he’s going to, in this case.”

“He likely won’t,” Mitchel said, shrugging his shoulder. “It’s best to wait and see, Callahan. At the very least, the Emperor will bring up the suggestion to Queen Jordine. If she accepts, he’ll have to reopen the discussion with his Council, and we’ll have our chance to speak on the matter.”

“I guess…” Jazz sighed. He turned to Mitchel, giving him a half-smile. “It’s good to know that there’s at least one person who agrees with me.”

Mitchel smiled back. “I’m sure there are more of us that agree with you than you think, Callahan. You just have to trust your voice more in the meetings. You have more useful things to say than some members of the Emperor’s Council. And you work harder, as well. I have to admit, I’m really quite impressed with your progress over the past year or so.”

Jazz nodded and looked away, feeling his own smile grow wider as his cheeks felt warmer than usual. “Thanks, Mitchel. I think I really needed to hear that.”